With fresh planners, new pens, and washi tape in hand it is that time of year again where we set our goals. As an aspiring virgo who hopes to have all her ducks neatly in a row and everything go right to plan, 2025 has taught me that everything that can go wrong probably will. The lesson I learned was ITS OKAY for plans to change but as an autistic girlie this has been a concept I have struggled with all my life. So, while last year I didn’t draft as many books as I have years prior, I did draft stories and create outlines I was proud of. For 2026 I’d like to strike a good balance of goal setting and participating in life. 

I plan to break down the goals into three separate categories, because every writer knows three is the most significant number. Those categories are: Career, Connection, and Core. Well, Dear Reader, since you are on my author website it feels only natural that we start breaking down my goals in the career category. 

Career: 

Last year was a big year for me as I had not one but two book releases. They both had their hurdles and I do plan to go into detail of those specific challenges later in the year, but for this section I really wanted to focus on the fact that this will be a year of drafting and editing for me. I have no new releases coming in 2026, but I’m happy to have a ‘breather’ year. I am contracted for a second FROM THE DIARY OF AGNES JAEGER book(coming 2027), so that will take priority in the first quarter. I also have a thriller standalone I drafted with my friend Chandra, so that will need some edits as we plan to pitch it to Inimitable Books.

For drafting I’d like to make progress, and ideally a finished manuscript, for two projects of mine. 

The first is Project Cursebreaker and if you know anything about that, hey, glad you’ve been around for awhile. If you are new to me and my lengthy list of story ideas Cursebreaker originally came to my mind in 2015. It’s been marinating and changing for a decade. It was the one of the trio of ideas I had way back when, the other being DOWN THE WELL, and the third if I am honest is lost to time as I cannot for the life of me remember. Cursebreaker follows an artist who lives in a world that feels like it’s against her. She rejects the prophecy that says she’ll be the one to free the realm from the punishment of living colorless. Cursebreaker, book 1, is a homage to Beowulf with a twist and a love letter to all artists (‘cept you “AI artists” get bent). I am so excited for this series and after a brainstorm session with Chandra FINALLY broke through a bit of writer’s block, and now with a more structured outline, I can keep writing the colorful legacy of Anastasia Everwolf. 

The second project is Hoodwinked Hearts. A little red riding hood retelling with a sapphic romance, and the all too familiar dangers of propaganda and how easily it can spread. This idea originally sparked in my head as a werewolf romance I would write on Wattpad, but since then it’s taken more shape and in my mind the stories of Grimmland have, at least, the potential to span across five books. Time will tell with this series as it sits right now. I’d like to get the first draft completed and while it’s off with trusted alpha readers perhaps work on what would be the second book. Due to the themes of this book, I am also exploring creating artwork for it. Particularly, vintage style propaganda posters. I hope to share more about Garnet and the fairytale world she calls home, and how this series may be one I take to the query trenches. 

Connection:

This is the year I am going to participate in life, because for much of it, and it’s not like I’m some ancient entity, I have spent surviving. Then, in my adulthood I have spent building something stable. I want more experiences though, and not new traumatic things but more of when I get to the end of my life I can say I lived things. 

The majority of these goals are in my personal life so while I’ll be very vague I still thought they’d be worth sharing, but this section will be shorter compared to the others. 

Since moving to a new area I’d like to make more friendships, I’d also like to join a group or organization. I have a few selected to check out. One is a french speaking group. Another is a group that meets once a month and its for local artists to gather to create protest posters. Lastly, is to get back into pottery. I found it thanks to a lovely friend and unfortunately had to step away once the school year began for my kiddo(didn’t realize how hectic school would be) and I miss it. Getting my hands in the clay was something that was very cathartic and I enjoyed the atmosphere of an open studio.

And of course there are also the goals of seeing things like the Northern Lights, and scheduling in person Author events. 

Rounding out the list is core. 

Core: 

To close out this post strongly, let’s talk about something that’s really disheartening. AI slop is becoming so rampant online and the fight to not become so dependent on a resource sucking ‘tool’ is already so messy. To combat the brainrot I am partaking in personal curriculums. I saw this online but like most ‘trends’ its origin began on TikTok. I would like to set myself up for success so while I have skills I plan year round, I will be focusing on my curriculum by season. I narrowed down my list of eight, to two.  

Year round I am going to continue strengthening my writing craft by reading all that I can, as well as doing. I find that I learn better by doing, so hello writing excursuses and flash fiction. I am also dipping my toes into the world of indie game development, and if there’s enough folks interested in it, I may talk about my progress with that. For now, I will keep it as I have always loved video games, and the stories they hold. Creating a video game is also a lengthy process much like writing a novel. So I’m giddy to start coding. 

My curriculum will begin in summer of 2026 and will go into late August, and the topic is botany. I have always had an interest in the science of plants, and the knowledge will not only be helpful in my day to day as I enjoy gardening, and foraging but also will come in handy when I write. Some stories involve food. Food in magical ways and what is magic if not a little bit of science? I plan to use online resources like Crash Course on Youtube and look over some universities that offer free courses. I also plan on gathering a reading list but at the time of drafting this I’ve not had one put together. 

In autumn I will begin learning about Journalism. It has been an interest of mine since I was in middle school and every Wednesday my mom and I watched a t.v show called Eastwick. One of the witches was a journalist and I loved how she chased after the truth. I thought for a moment that I may be like her when I grew up. Chase after the truth. Relentlessly. In today’s climate many feel as though large media journalists aren’t doing their job. Now, I am sure it’s hard to properly do your job when the company you work for is owned by a CEO who benefits from softball interviews and capitulation. Or at least, that’s what I tell myself.

Again, I plan to use resources online but also I’m excited to visit my local library. My reading list for this subject starts with Unfreedom of The Press by Mark Levin, All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann, Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow. This list may shift and change as what becomes available through my library but I think it’s a solid start. 

The past few years I have been exploring little bits of my Jewish heritage. It’s sort of a well kept secret in my family tree, but since unearthing it I have learned a lot. This year I’d like to learn even more and I think to honor that heritage and my continued learning about it, plus everything I’d like to accomplish it only makes sense that my 2026 word of the year is Chutzpah.